Shloka 39
नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः
Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva
ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तांश्ष मत्तान् मद्यमदेन च | अप्रमत्ता: शठान् शूरा विक्रान्ता: पर्युपासते
aiśvaryamadamattāṁś ca mattān madyamadena ca | apramattāḥ śaṭhān śūrā vikrāntāḥ paryupāsate ||
Nārada sprach: „Die vom Machtgefühl Berauschten und die vom Wein Betrunkenen werden von den Wachsamen sorgfältig beobachtet und gelenkt—von den Listigen, den Tapferen und den Kühnen—die ihnen nur dienen, um ihre Unachtsamkeit auszunutzen.“
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and intoxication breed heedlessness; such lapses attract opportunists. Therefore, one should remain apramatta (vigilant) and not become matta through aiśvarya-mada or madyamada, since crafty and bold people may ‘attend’ only to take advantage.
In Narada’s discourse within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, he observes a social pattern: the intoxicated—whether by authority or by drink—become targets for vigilant yet deceitful and forceful individuals who stay close, watching for openings.